Hull City’s luckless week met a dismal conclusion as second-half goals from Matt Smith and Idrissa Sylla sent Leonid Slutsky’s side crashing to a 2-1 defeat at QPR.

The Tigers were on course for a much-needed boost when leading through Jarrod Bowen’s first-half strike but more misery was heaped upon the visitors as Ian Holloway’s side rallied late on to snatch all three points.

Matt Smith’s firm header converted Luke Freeman’s cross to equalise in the 74 minute before Idrissa Sylla capitalised in the first minute of stoppage time to give QPR an unlikely victory at Loftus Road.

Almost a year to the day since the Tigers last claimed three points on their travels when beating Swansea City in the Premier League, it was another grim afternoon for City’s 829 travelling fans to digest.

Without Sam Clucas, left out by Slutsky amid intense speculation over the midfielder’s future, the Tigers’ desperate lack of resources were underlined in a week that has lost Abel Hernandez and Markus Henriksen to injury. City should have escaped with at least a point but the late capitulation accentuated the growing need for action in the transfer market.

Clucas’ absence was alarming for City fans but the bad news would not end there for Slutsky. Kevin Stewart had been made to wait for his full debut after joining from Liverpool for £4m last month but the midfielder lasted just nine minutes before he was replaced by Adama Diomande.

Already missing the injured Henriksen and Hernandez, City showed little fluency through the opening stages. QPR played with the greater sense of adventure and should have taken the lead in the 17 minute.

Conor Washington’s run took him in behind Michael Hector down City’s left channel and though a precise pull-back found Freeman arriving late in the penalty area, the QPR midfielder dragged wide from 12 yards out.

The Tigers were grateful for the let-off and soon set about making the most of it with a much-improved spell. Kamil Grosicki’s run lacked an accurate cross with QPR stretched, before a neat move from the visitors ended with Diomande shooting just wide from the edge of the box.

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A tight contest called for a touch of magic and it almost came from Bowen. Quick feet from the City forward took him past Alex Baptiste and Nedum Onuoha but a fierce shot from a tight angle brought an excellent save from Alex Smithies.

Hector and Michael Dawson both produced superb clearances from their own six-yard box as QPR responded but the opener belonged to City 10 minutes before the break. David Meyler’s deep, curling cross from the right picked out Bowen and the forward compensated for a loose touch with persistence, shrugging off Kazenga LuaLua to shoot low beneath Smithies.

A second goal of the season for Bowen gave City something to protect for the second half and Slutsky made no secret of his plans when replacing Fraizer Campbell with central defender Ondrej Mazuch to form a three-man defence.

Jarrod Bowen of Hull City scores against QPR (Image: Focus)

The sheer weight of numbers made City a tough nut to crack and not until the hour mark was Allan McGregor finally asked to make a save. Jamie Mackie’s tame shot was comfortably stopped by the Scot, whose protection could not be faulted through the first hour.

QPR began to take greater chances coming forward and crafted another chance soon after. Jake Bidwell’s cross from the left was inviting for Matt Smith but his downward header was smothered again by McGregor.

Smith went close again from a cross whipped in from the opposite flank but City failed to heed the warning signs. After Sylla’s turn and shot had been inches away from an equaliser, the Tigers’ luck ran out with 16 minutes to play. Luke Freeman’s cross was sent into the six-yard box from the left wing and Smith climbed highest to beat the helpless McGregor.

QPR pressed on for a winner but that presented two golden chances for City in the closing stages. Bowen fired over from a good position before Larsson spurned an even better opportunity when failing to beat Smithies from inside the box.

Only when the home team attacked at the opposite end did the cost of Larsson’s miss become clear. A hopeful punt forward opened up City and when Smith chipped over McGregor, the forward’s physicality held off Hector for Sylla to tap in from close range.

The Tigers still should have come away with a point after a remarkable goalmouth scramble was only ended by Grosicki shooting wide but Ehab Allam, City’s vice chairman watching on from the stands, was left under no illusions about the health of Slutsky’s squad with 12 days of the transfer window remaining.